Air-line coupling



THOMAS.

AIR LINE COUPLING.

AIPPLIQATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1919.

Patented Jan. W, 19221.

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gwuwwfo v I 7H0/WA5 v F. M. Won/m AIR LSNE couPuwe.

APPLICATION FILED'SEPT. 20,1919. v v

Patented. Jan. w, 1922,

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are FAENT FRANK M. THOMAS, OF PIGGOTT, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNGR 0F QNE-HALF'TQ LQ'UIS LINKE, 0F PARAGOULD, ARKANSAS.

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AIR-LINE CQUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pafli gnfl gqfl J m jug) 1922 Application 'filed September 20, 1919. Serial No. 325,092.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piggott, in the county of Clay and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Line Coupllngs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for coupling the air pipe of railway cars by means of which the brakes are controlled, the purpose being to provide a coupler which 1s susceptible of being easily and cheaply repaired and maintained in working condltion and which will prevent the esca e or waste of air pressure and which is a uomatic 111 action, both in coupling and uncoupling, and which will adapt itself to the various movements of the cars without any tendency to strain the parts or to open the joint.

' The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet differentconditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter,

, Referring to the drawings hereto attached;

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of part of a railway car provided with an air pipe coupling embodying the invention, I

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of I a portion of the coupler showing the parts on a larger scale,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectlon on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking to the front, as indicated by the. arrow,

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the forward portion of the coupler,

Fig. 5 is'a top View ofvthe forward portion of the coupler partly in section,

Fig: 6 is a top view of two coupler members in coupled position, parts being broken away to show more clearly the relation of the parts when in cooperative POSItIOII to admit of the air passing from the a r plpe of one car to the air pipe of the next car Fig; 7 is a sectional detail :of the'joint formed between the sections at the outer end of the air pipe,

Corresponding and like parts are referred Fig. 8 is a top view of the outer ends of complemental ment.

cal springs 14 are mounted coupler members in engage to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates a car'body and 2 part of a supporting truck therefor. The numeral 3 designates a coupling of any desired type, whereby'the cars are coupled when in train. Cross beams 4 support the car bodyon the frame work of the truck in a manner well understood. The parts herein referred to may be of any usual construction and are illustrated to demonstrate the application of the present invention which relates more particularly to the air pipe or train-line coupler and parts intimately associated therewith. A. hanger 5 is pendent from the forward cross beam or a fragment of bolster 4 and constitutes a support for the air pipe coupler. A; frame 6 is disposed within the hanger 5 and is. pivotally connected thereto by vertically disposed gudgeons '1 which preferably form a part of the frame 6. Ribs 8 project inwardly from the top and bottom of the frame o and are centrally disposed. The ribs 8 flare rearwardly, as indicated at 9 and their forward faces curve, as shownmost clearly in Fig. 2. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3,-the frame 6 is transversely elongated and is provided in end portions of its top and bottom with vertically aligned openings to receive vertical pins 10.

A hollow abutment 11 is mounted in the frame 6 and is closed at its rear end and open at its front end which latter is enlarged to form a head 12 which engages the ribs 8 whereby the .rearwardlnovement of the abutment 11 is limited. 'The head 12 tapers forwardly and its rear is made rounding to engage the forward rounded faces of the ribs 8, wherebythe abutment 11 is adapted to have a limited rocking. movement in a vertical plane. It is also observed that the abutmentll is adapted to have a pivotal movement horizontally with the frame 6 aboutthe gudgeons 7. Lugs 13 project laterally from the abutment 11 in opposite directions and are apert-ured to receive the vertical pins 10. Fig. 3. Expansible heliupon end portions of the pins 10 and are confined between the lugs 13 and the top. and bottom portions of the frame 6. In this manner, the abut ment 11 is yieldably held me. given position.

The coupler comprises a body, 15 which is with a longitudinal opening 19 in which is fitted a member 20 which is' retained in place by suitable fastenings 21 which are threaded into the sides of the body 15. The open ing 19 is contracted at it forward end and the member 20 is similarly reduced, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The member 20 is insertible' and removable relatively to the body 15 through the rear end of the opening 19. A longitudinal passage 22 is formed in the rear portion of the member 20 and communicates at its outer end with the air pipe line, as indicated at 23 and at its inner end with a longitudinal opening or passage 24 formed in the forward portion of themember 20. A member 25 is slidably mounted in the opening 24; and is tubular and isnormally pressed forward by means of an expansible helical spring 26 mounted upon the forward portion of the member 25 and confined between a shoulder at the outer end thereof and an inner shoulder of the member 20. The member 25. is provided "at itsouter end with a head 27 in which is formed a lateral opening in communication with the opening formed longitudinally in the member 25. A gasket or; packing 28 is fitted on a side of the head 27 in line with the lateral opening and insures a tight joint between the members 25 whenthe coupler of onecar is engaged with the coupler of the next car. A stop 29 projects laterally from the head 27 in the rear of the lateral opening and is adapted to engage the end of the companion member 25 and limit the movement of the two members 25 when the coupler of one car is in engagement with the coupler of thenext car coupled thereto. The

' opening of the -member 25 is adaptedto register or make connection at its inner or rear endwith the passage 22 when the member '25 is pressed rearwardly. The longitudinal opening f the member 25 extends laterally through said member, as indicated at 30 in Fig.4. When the member 25 i pressed forwardly by the spring 26, the opening 3,0 is moved away from the opening or passage 22 and the latter is closed by the part of the member 25 in thevrear of. the opening 30. However, when the member 25 is pressed rearwardly .as is the case when companion coupler members are in with the opening or passage 22, so that the air may have unobstructed passage through the opening of the members 20. and 25 and from the air pipe of one car to the air pipe of the next car coupled thereto.- By having the inner faces of the extensions 17 and 18 inclined, the outer ends-of the coupler members are caused to come together in proper relation when adjacent cars are coupled. The heads 27 of the members 25 are likewise subjected to lateral pressure to bring the gaskets or packing inclose relation to maintain a close joint between companion members 25. A band 31 is mounted upon the coupler body 15 and is yieldably connected to the inner or rear cross member 1 by. means of rods 32 which have their contiguous ends slidably connected and pressed apart by an expansible helical spring 33.

Stops 34 projecting laterally from the body 15 are adapted to engage the band 31 and limit the forward movement of the coupler.

The air pipe or train line 23 is provided at its outer or forward end with a plurality of elbow sections, indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. These sections have a ball and socket connection, as indicated at 35 in Fig. 7 Rings or like elements 36 constitute connecting means for securing the sections at the ball and socket joints. The rings or connecting elements 36 are made secure by bolt or like fastenings 37. A gasket or packing 38 is interposed between one of the connecting elements and the section engaged thereby to maintain a close joint. The elbow sections and the ball and socket joints enable V the successful use of an all metal air pipe f and provide for -the various movements t obviate binding.

It is to be understood that each end of a car is equipped alike with a coupler constructed substantially as herein disclosed. When two cars are run together in the act of coupling, the members comprising the air pipe coupler likewise are brought into coupling engagement and each member is pressed rearwardly against the tension of the spring 16 and as the air pipe coupling members come together, the heads 27 are pressed together laterally, thereby insuring the formation of a close joint.- When the members 25 are pressed rearward, the openings therein are caused to connect with the passages 22 by the lateral openings 30 movlng to-a position to register with the lateral openingsat the forward ends of the passages 22. Byhaving the tnai n' or air pipe coupler mounted as disclosed herein, it will adapt itself readily to the various. movements of the cars. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the frame 6 is adapted to oscillate about a vertical axis and the hollow abutment ll is adapted to oscillate about a longitudinal axis. The body 15 of the couengagement, the opening 30 is in register pler is of square form and the opening in the abutment 11 is of corresponding shape to admit of the coupler and abutment 11 oscillating together. It is to be understood that the forward portion of the coupler is yieldably supported 50 as to allow for vertical adjustment. This is indicated most clearly in Fig. 1, which shows a hanger 39 through which the body 15 of the coupler passes, said body resting upon a plate yieldably supported by mean of a spring 40. The hanger 39 is of such formation as to admit of the various movements of the coupler, whereby it may adapt itself to the cars without causing any binding action.'

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be consideredthe preferred, or approved form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make uch changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, asmay prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a train pipe coupler, a supporting frame, a hollow abutment mounted for rocking movement in a vertical plane and movable horizontally with the frame and provided at its sides with lateral lugs, pins passing through said lugs and supported in the upper and lower portions of the frame, expansible helical springs mounted upon end portions of the pins between the lugs and portions of the frame in which the are mounted and a coupler slidably mounted in the abutment. v a

2.111 a train pipe coupler, a supporting frame having inwardly extending ribs medially of its top and bottom, a hollow abutment mounted in the frame and having a head engaging the said ribs ,and provided at its sides with lugs, vertical pins passing loosely through the lugs and supported in portions of the frame, expans'ible helical sprlngs mounted upon end I portions of the pins and exerting-a pressure on' the lugs of the abutment and a coupler,

slidably mounted in the hollow abutment.

3. In a train pipe coupler, a supporting frame having rib portions formed thereon, a

hollow abutment mounted in the frame and having a head engaging said ribs, said abut-.

ment provided with lugs formed upon the sides thereof, and yieldable means engaging said lugs for normally holding said abutment in proper alinement, and a coupler slidably mounted in the hollow abutment.

pins

gig

4. In a train pipe coupler, a supporting frame, means for pivotally mounting said 1 supporting frame upon a support for lateral swinging movement, a hollow abutment mounted within said frame and anchored against movement upon said frame in one ydirection, a coupler slidably mounted withmember and provided with a longitudinally extending opening, said slidably mounted member provided with an outlet port adapted to'be brought into registration with said passage when moved inwardly with respect to said passage, means for locking said first mentioned member within a coupler, pring means engaging said slidably mounted member for normally urging the same outwardly with respect to the coupler, ahead formed upon the outer end of said slidably mounted member, said head provided with a laterally extending lip adapted to constitute an abutment against which a cooperating slidably mounted member upon an adjoining coupler abuts for the purpose of producing an efiicient interlocking engagement between a pair of couplers.

6. In an air pipe coupler for railway cars, a member having a longitudinally extending passage formed therein, a complemental member slidably mounted within the first mentioned member, yieldable means constituting a buffer for said complemental mem- FRANK M. THOMAS. 

